Engaging publics about environmental and technology risks: frames, values and deliberation

Abstract

This paper documents a personal conceptual and methodological journey to develop processes of public engagement and deliberation for use with risk issues. Commencing from the 1995 volume by Ortwin Renn and colleagues on Fairness and Competence in Citizen Participation alongside the 1996 National Academies Understanding Risk report, the paper first describes the parallel development of public engagement thinking within risk communication research and within science and technology studies. 16 case studies of research involving public engagement with risk issues are then presented, with topics ranging across major accident risks, geoengineering, nanotechnologies, genetic modification, climate change, fracking, energy systems change and energy use in everyday life. With reference to these case studies four methodological lessons for public engagement practice are discussed: information framing, who participates, facilitating spaces for reflection and deliberation, and data synthesis to access broader values.